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radiator cap not working!?? (legacy777???)
Posted: Sun May 07, 2006 3:52 pm
by Project_Legacy
my car started overheating as i was working, so i stop at a corner store for a little bit.
i go out and check the radiator overflow and it was way up to the top.
so i get a thick sweater, and i open up the radiator cap just a little to vent until coolant wanted to come out. after that i did the same to the reservoir by the engine.
so now, i go out to drive again, the engine is still a little warm, and then about 5-10 seconds of driving it drops down back to normal temp.
i get out to check the overflow again, and its now back down to the middle.
now heres my question. is my radiator cap not venting at all? i have the 1.3 bar radiator cap on my radiator, and the original 0.9 bar on the reservoir by the engine. i thought thats how it was supposed to be configured. should i buy a new 0.9 bar radiator cap and try and put that on the reservoir? or is my 1.3 bar radiator cap not the one to use?
EDIT: i was searching, and came across this.
http://bbs.legacycentral.org/viewtopic. ... p&start=25
apparently, Legacy777 pulled the bottom rubber gasket off of the radiator cap. is that something that i am supposed to do when i run the N/A radiator? which bottom rubber gasket is it?? i see a large flat one, and the thick smaller one.
Posted: Mon May 08, 2006 2:25 am
by Project_Legacy
damn. nothing huh?? hey legacy777 could you please help me on this?
Posted: Mon May 08, 2006 6:25 pm
by vrg3
You haven't explained how you plumbed your stuff, so I don't have any suggestions about the overheating, but:
Yes, you should what Josh did. Simply using a higher-pressure cap on the radiator won't do the job. You also have to route the hoses a certain way. I've described it a couple of time. Try searching for posts by me with the words "radiator cap gasket" or something.
Posted: Mon May 08, 2006 8:16 pm
by THAWA
Yeah, more info is needed.
Posted: Mon May 08, 2006 9:32 pm
by Project_Legacy
ok. im not sure if i have it routed right. i will have to take a picture after i get off of work. that should clear things up abit. basically the reservoir on the engine, is vented to the overflow tank by the radiator.
Posted: Mon May 08, 2006 9:34 pm
by vrg3
And what about the overflow fitting on the radiator's filler neck?
Posted: Mon May 08, 2006 10:51 pm
by Project_Legacy
you are talking about on the radiator itself? i believe that is going to the second most top nipple on the reservoir by the engine. does that seem right?
Posted: Mon May 08, 2006 11:09 pm
by vrg3
Yes, that's how you'd want it if you did my method of removing the lower gasket from the radiator cap. Be sure you're using pressure-safe hose for that, too; I'd use 5/16" fuel hose.
Posted: Mon May 08, 2006 11:10 pm
by Project_Legacy
alright kool. i guess i will be removing that lower gasket then. thanks a lot!
Posted: Mon May 08, 2006 11:26 pm
by THAWA
You shouldn't remove just the lower gasket. It would be best if you cut off the entire spring portion of the cap. Essentially making the cap only a seal. It's a much better method, believe me

Posted: Tue May 09, 2006 12:23 am
by vrg3
Why, Hardy? It seems to me that the amount of flow permitted through that tiny check valve in the filler tank is so small, it can easily flow past a removed lower gasket. But it sounds like you're speaking from experience.
Posted: Tue May 09, 2006 4:17 am
by Project_Legacy
how would it hold the coolant if i take all of that gasket/spring stuff out?? wouldnt it leak all over the place?
on a side note, the turbo legacy radiators dont have radiator caps on their radiators do they? i havent seen one up close yet... or actually i just didnt look for it.
Posted: Tue May 09, 2006 7:08 am
by IronMonkeyL255
We don't have one on the radiator.
Posted: Tue May 09, 2006 7:14 am
by Project_Legacy
ahh i thought so! thanks for the info!
Posted: Tue May 09, 2006 1:36 pm
by vrg3
You just remove the lower gasket, but leave the upper one in place. It still seals against the radiator neck but allows coolant to flow freely from the radiator out the "overflow" nipple.
Posted: Tue May 09, 2006 4:21 pm
by Project_Legacy
yea thats what i thought. thanks!
Posted: Wed May 10, 2006 7:42 pm
by Legacy777
Sorry....been traveling.
Yeah, I just removed the lower gasket, and have been running this way since the swap and have had ZERO issues. Initially after the swap it took a few drives to get the tiny air bubbles worked out.
Posted: Wed May 10, 2006 8:25 pm
by Project_Legacy
kool! i havent been able to do it yet, but i will be doing it this afternoon. thanks for replying.